We are Franciscans  

+ May God grant you Peace +

     The 'Seculars' are part of a global Franciscan movement dating back to the 13th century. We are an Order within the Catholic Church, founded by St. Francis of Assisi. ​
     We're Catholic men and women, married and single, who live 'regular' lives in the world. We seek to pattern our lives after Christ in the spirit of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi.  ​

​The San Luis Rey Secular Franciscan fraternity meets each month at Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, CA.

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About the Secular Franciscan Order

     We welcome you to learn more about Francis, Clare, and the Secular Franciscan Order.  'Secular' means that we're not vowed Religious, but are Franciscans who are Catholic laypeople who live 'in the world.'  In Latin,  'Secular Franciscan Order' is translated as Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis. This is  abbreviated as 'OFS.'  The name is frequently rendered in Latin as that is the norm in our global community as it works for speakers of any language.

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     The San Luis Rey Secular Franciscan Fraternity was founded by young women from the Academy of the Little Flower who first formed as a Franciscan community on October 9th, 1949.  The Fraternity was canonically recognized on February 18th, 1951. Although the Academy itself has long since closed, the Academy legacy continues today in the fond memories of former Academy students, in the Academy building which exists today as part of the Mission San Luis Rey Parish Center, and of course, in our ongoing Secular Franciscan Fraternity.